Sew'n Wild Oaks Retreat

Hello Everyone,

I've had so much fun being with these wonderful women this week.  They came as far as Wyoming to attend my Sew'n Wild Oaks Retreat.

The neighborhoods of little Calico Cottages were growing around the room.

This is just a small sampling of our show and tell nights every evening after dinner.

This is Rob, the Snowflake restaurant manager.  He would delight us with a song prior to every meal.  Yesterday he sang Day-O in tribute to the passing of Harry Belafonte.

Yes, there was teaching too.

 

There were so many spectacular quilts!

I'm off to the Lodge this morning.  I think I may sleep in tomorrow morning!

Soon,

Lynn

Day Two - Sew'n Wild Oaks April Retreat

 Hello Everyone,

It was a spectacular to day to be in the mountains and take a stroll around Snowflake Lake after brunch.

The girls were kicking up their heels on the little foot bridge.

A friend and neighbor dropped by during the day to show us her fabulous Country Sampler quilt.  

We had our first show and tell of the retreat and Nancy started it off with a comfort quilt she made for our guild.  She did a great job machine quilting too.

Marlene brought in her Heritage quilt in her rich, Fall colors.

Clair made this quilt in a day!  Also, another comfort quilt for her group. I can't wait to see what she whips up today.

Linda enjoys had stitching her wall hangings which she designs.

This is Diane with her beautiful quilt.  So many of us commented on how soft is felt.

Here's another Heritage made by Louise.  All of the fabrics were from her stash.

I love this 'Raven' quilt!

Susie loves to make Hexies.

Both were so pretty.

Claudia went the extra mile with her wool quilt.  She didn't like her original background and spent quite a bit of time cutting if off and switched to the green background to show off her blocks.

Gail got one of her blocks 'framed' yesterday for her Calico Cottages quilt.

Then the girls admired the workmanship.  I think we should call it workwomanship!

I'm off to the Lodge for another fun day of quilting with these wonderful women.

Soon,

Lynn

Day One - April Sew'n Wild Oaks Retreat

 Hello Everyone,

It was a spectacular day in the mountains on Sunday for the start of the first Sew'n Wild Oaks retreat of the year at Snowflake Lodge.

The girls helped with set up, then we had time for a bit of lunch outside on the deck before the quilters arrived.

The Lodge just purchased new tables which they covered with a protective covering.  The room looked like an Italian restaurant minus the aroma of lasagna baking in the kitchen. 

After many hugs and renewing past friendships and making new friends, the girls got right to work.

The girls have a wonderfully large workspace so they can spread their projects out.

We left the Lodge at 5:00 and headed to my cabin for our appetizer dinner.  The weather was warm enough to eat outside.....for a little while.

This morning we will gather together at 8am and I'll start teaching around 9.  Brunch will be around 10.  We will quilt, laugh, eat, walk around the lake and repeat the entire process throughout the day.  Sew much fun!

Soon,

Lynn

Calico Cottages Tutorial

 Hello Everyone,

I've been busy here under the pines at Sew'n Wild Oaks.  My first retreat of the year begins on Sunday.  The project for all of the retreats this year is my Calico Cottages pattern. I've been making more of these addicting cottages using my fabric collection called HEARTHSTONE by Marcus Fabrics.  The line will be out this summer.

I put a new tutorial together which you can download and print.  You can find the tutorial by clicking HERE. The tutorial walks you through the assembly of the roof section of the cottage.  Once you 'nail down' the process for the roof, the same technique applies to all of the other sections of the cottage. 

The pattern is available in my Etsy shop HERE.

Yesterday was a major cleaning of the cabin day.  Since I've been soooo busy pattern writing, I've neglected basic cabin cleaning.  Now it caught up with me, and yesterday there was a major de-cobwebbing, is that a word?  

While I worked inside, Mr. Joe tried to get caught up outside.  We had another dusting of snow during the week, so all of his planned chores were delayed by a few days. We put out all of the deck furniture and cushions yesterday......we think the snow might be over for the year......famous last words.  Otherwise, it's like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic when we have to haul it all back inside.  I finally feel like Spring is in the air and we actually had some quality time on the deck with appetizers and wine yesterday afternoon at the end of our workday. 

I'm so glad that gorgeous weather in in the forecast for next week while all of the girls are here.  I'm looking forward to many daily walks around Snowflake Lake.

If you remove the letters RE from the word RETREAT, you get TREAT.  Next week will be a real TREAT for all of us.  We don't have to cook; all meals are provided.  We get to quilt, laugh, eat, walk, and spend time with other quilters who share our passion for quilting.  

I'll be posting pictures throughout the week of the girls, their projects, and our fun time together.

Soon,

Lynn

Bridle Path Media

Hello Everyone,

I was thrilled to see this very short video which is part of the media kit for my block of the month for Marcus Fabrics.  

I love the music selected for the video.

I've been busy here getting ready for the first Sew'n Wild Oaks retreat of the year.  The girls roll into town on Sunday, April 23rd.  I'm making name tags and putting a new tutorial together for foundation paper-piecing. It would also be a good idea if I cleaned the cabin too!

The pattern for Bridle Path is written and in the hands of the technical reviewer.  My sister and good friend Paula also reviewed the pattern.  The quilt is in the hands of the machine quilter.  There just aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done, and something had to go......so I elected to not quilt the quilt myself.  It's really hard for me to let it go of the entire quilt process. I have one quilter who's the best, and I trust her vision for the quilt. 

Over the past few weeks, I've felt like a gerbil in a bingo cage being spun upside down and sideways with letters and numbers. Writing a pattern is very intense, especially a large pattern.  I also had to write all of the cutting directions for the shop owners, so they know exactly how much fabric to cut each month.  It is such a relief, let me repeat that in all caps, RELIEF to have this off my plate.  I wanted to get everything completed prior to the retreat so that I could be somewhat relaxed when the girls arrive. I may just curl up in the fetal position and let the girls run amuck during the retreat. Not a bad idea, right?

Would you believe we are supposed to get a dusting of snow tonight and tomorrow!!!  Winter just doesn't want to loosen its hold on us. 

I'm off to clean my sewing room so the girls won't think poorly of my lack of organizational skills.

Soon,

Lynn

 

Happy Easter

 Hello Everyone,

Happy Easter to everyone!  We are getting ready to head out to an Easter brunch at our homeowner's association.  The bottomless Mimosas were the hook to get us to go! I can't remember an Easter where I haven't been in the kitchen fixing brunch for us.  It is a nice change of pace.

My sister, Gail, has been up here in the mountains all week pattern testing for me.  All of the pictures of the blocks were made by Gail.

I finally let her have a glass of wine when she finished her perfect pinwheels.

We have totally 'fleshed out' the new Bridle Path pattern, and the pattern is much better with her help. Next, the pattern goes to the technical writer hired by Marcus Fabrics before the final copy goes to the printer.

A HUGE job is going to be done and off of my full plate this week.

Soon,

Lynn